India Launches First Panchayat Development Index
ECONOMY & POLICY

India Launches First Panchayat Development Index

In a landmark step towards evidence-based rural development, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj has unveiled the first-ever Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) baseline report for FY 2022-23. This tool, grounded in Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), assesses the performance of over 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats (GPs) across India, offering an unprecedented view of the nation's grassroots governance.

The PAI maps each Panchayat’s progress across nine themes under Localized SDGs, including poverty alleviation, infrastructure, water sufficiency, child welfare, and women empowerment. With data from 2,16,285 validated Panchayats, the findings are a mixed bag of hope and challenge.

Key Highlights: Only 699 Panchayats (0.3%) were recognized as Front Runners.

77,298 Panchayats (35.8%) were classified as Performers.

A significant 1,32,392 Panchayats (61.2%) were identified as Aspirants.

5,896 Panchayats (2.7%) fell in the Beginner category.

No Panchayat achieved the highest "Achiever" status.

Among states, Gujarat and Telangana emerged as leaders, with 346 and 270 Front Runner Panchayats respectively. In terms of Performers, Gujarat again topped the list (13,781), followed by Maharashtra (12,242), Telangana (10,099), Madhya Pradesh (7,912), and Uttar Pradesh (6,593). On the other hand, states like Bihar, Chhattisgarh, and Andhra Pradesh showed a greater share of Aspirant Panchayats—indicating a need for intensified development efforts.

About PAI The Panchayat Advancement Index is a composite index based on 435 local indicators, compiled using 566 unique data points. These metrics align with the National Indicator Framework (NIF) developed by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.

Panchayats are ranked in five categories:

Achiever: 90+ score

Front Runner: 75 to below 90

Performer: 60 to below 75

Aspirant: 40 to below 60

Beginner: below 40

The PAI is designed not just as a scoring system, but as a strategic tool to identify development gaps and encourage evidence-based planning. It enables Panchayats to set local goals, refine their strategies, and efficiently allocate resources.

A Collaborative, Data-Driven Effort The release of PAI was made possible through partnerships with various Union Ministries, State Governments, and UN agencies. Over Rs 2.16 lakh Gram Panchayats from 29 States/UTs submitted data via the PAI portal (www.pai.gov.in), a multilingual platform that allows Panchayats to track their development metrics.

However, data from 11,712 Panchayats across five States/UTs (including West Bengal, Goa, and Puducherry) were excluded due to pending validation.

As India advances toward the 2030 SDG targets, the PAI is set to become a cornerstone for transparent, inclusive, and community-driven rural development.

For detailed insights, visit the official PAI portal: www.pai.gov.in.

In a landmark step towards evidence-based rural development, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj has unveiled the first-ever Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) baseline report for FY 2022-23. This tool, grounded in Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), assesses the performance of over 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats (GPs) across India, offering an unprecedented view of the nation's grassroots governance. The PAI maps each Panchayat’s progress across nine themes under Localized SDGs, including poverty alleviation, infrastructure, water sufficiency, child welfare, and women empowerment. With data from 2,16,285 validated Panchayats, the findings are a mixed bag of hope and challenge. Key Highlights: Only 699 Panchayats (0.3%) were recognized as Front Runners. 77,298 Panchayats (35.8%) were classified as Performers. A significant 1,32,392 Panchayats (61.2%) were identified as Aspirants. 5,896 Panchayats (2.7%) fell in the Beginner category. No Panchayat achieved the highest Achiever status. Among states, Gujarat and Telangana emerged as leaders, with 346 and 270 Front Runner Panchayats respectively. In terms of Performers, Gujarat again topped the list (13,781), followed by Maharashtra (12,242), Telangana (10,099), Madhya Pradesh (7,912), and Uttar Pradesh (6,593). On the other hand, states like Bihar, Chhattisgarh, and Andhra Pradesh showed a greater share of Aspirant Panchayats—indicating a need for intensified development efforts. About PAI The Panchayat Advancement Index is a composite index based on 435 local indicators, compiled using 566 unique data points. These metrics align with the National Indicator Framework (NIF) developed by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. Panchayats are ranked in five categories: Achiever: 90+ score Front Runner: 75 to below 90 Performer: 60 to below 75 Aspirant: 40 to below 60 Beginner: below 40 The PAI is designed not just as a scoring system, but as a strategic tool to identify development gaps and encourage evidence-based planning. It enables Panchayats to set local goals, refine their strategies, and efficiently allocate resources. A Collaborative, Data-Driven Effort The release of PAI was made possible through partnerships with various Union Ministries, State Governments, and UN agencies. Over Rs 2.16 lakh Gram Panchayats from 29 States/UTs submitted data via the PAI portal (www.pai.gov.in), a multilingual platform that allows Panchayats to track their development metrics. However, data from 11,712 Panchayats across five States/UTs (including West Bengal, Goa, and Puducherry) were excluded due to pending validation. As India advances toward the 2030 SDG targets, the PAI is set to become a cornerstone for transparent, inclusive, and community-driven rural development. For detailed insights, visit the official PAI portal: www.pai.gov.in.

Next Story
Real Estate

K Raheja Corp launches luxury tower at Raheja Galaxy, South Pune

K Raheja Corp Homes has unveiled a new luxury tower at Raheja Galaxy in South Pune, catering to the growing demand for premium living spaces in the area. Located off NIBM, the project offers seamless connectivity, excellent infrastructure, and a reputation for timely delivery and superior construction quality.The new tower features spacious 2-bed, 3-bed, and 3BHK L residences, priced from Rs 1.29 crore. The homes are designed with modern amenities and a neo-classical architectural style, offering a balance of functionality and luxury. Prices will increase after April 30th, making the early-bir..

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

PM to Visit Bihar on April 24 for Panchayati Raj Day Celebrations

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Bihar on 24th April 2025. During his visit to Madhubani, he will participate in the National Panchayati Raj Day celebrations at around 11:45 AM. On this occasion, he will inaugurate, dedicate, and lay the foundation stone for several development projects worth over Rs 134 bn, and will address the public gathering. As part of the programme, the Prime Minister will present the National Panchayat Awards, honouring the best-performing Panchayats from across the country. In the railways sector, Prime Minister Modi will flag off the Amrit Bha..

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

Rs 140 Bn Infra Projects in North India Reviewed by DPIIT Secretary

Shri Amardeep Bhatia, Secretary of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), chaired a high-level Project Monitoring Group (PMG) review meeting to assess progress on major infrastructure projects in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, and Uttarakhand. The meeting was attended by senior officials from central ministries, state governments, and private sector project proponents. A total of 17 key infrastructure projects, collectively worth over Rs 140 billion, were reviewed during the session, which addressed 19 critical issues affecting project execution. The discussions..

Advertisement

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Talk to us?